Harry starts to master the magic he is learning from Merlin's Diaries. The term starts with a Sorting Ceremony no one will ever forget. And he doesn't get off on the right foot with the new Defense Professor.

A/N: I own nothing this is all J.K.R.'s, what a brilliant mind she has.

Chapter Thirteen- The 'Resorting' Ceremony

Hours turned into days and days turned into weeks, and before Harry realized it, the start of term was fast approaching. From the moment he had settled into Gryffindor Tower, Harry had continued his training. He found that the solitary atmosphere that surrounded Hogwarts was perfect for concentrating on not only his studies, but his physical training as well. Though he could not leave the school grounds at Dumbledore's request, he found that Hogwarts had a lot of ground to cover. Harry was lonely, but throwing himself into his training occupied his time greatly. The Occlumency that he practiced on his own, now daily, helped him blank out his mind when he did not wish for his thoughts to roam.

Harry had seen Dumbledore watching him during his morning runs around the lake, and as he practiced his physical meditation on the Quidditch Pitch. Somehow, Harry had become quite proficient in the art of hand-to-hand combat, and he was quite amused when Luminous had shown up one day with three advanced practice dummies. Saying something like, 'I knew you'd get to that book eventually.' He had set them up on the pitch and Harry noticed that even Snape came out to observe the white dummies that were enchanted to act like humans. The large dolls even mocked Harry silently. One morning with the observance of Snape, Dumbledore, and Luminous, who Harry had not known were watching him, at the time, Harry managed to, from a standing meditative state, incapacitate all three dummies in less then a minute with out a wand. He was amazed that he could learn so much from just reading, though he knew that it was through his own physical force that he had built up the stamina, speed, and agility, which he had used to win against the dummies.

Harry had become quite pleased with his progress over the past month. Being able to train openly helped greatly and he was beginning to see hope again. Hope that he might be able to defeat Voldemort in time. Though he had successfully brewed the Vampirism Potion, he had yet to take it. Since the day in Dumbledore's office where he had learned about his lineage, Voldemort hadn't made any move against him. In fact, he hadn't felt anything from the man all month. He had remained completely silent to Harry and that worried him. But Harry knew he was still out their because of the mass amount of articles that littered the Daily Prophet about attacks on Muggles and Wizards alike.

It was the thirty-first of August, the day before term was to start, and Harry would loose his solitude. He was in the Room of Requirement with seven large stones sitting on a shelve behind him. Harry was trying to concentrate on a new, would be very useful spell, which he had just learned from the most recent of Merlin's Diaries, when the door opened and Dumbledore stepped into the room.

Harry lost concentration and the incomplete wandless spell, rebounded back on him, for the umpteenth time that afternoon. It knocked him to the floor on his back. Harry shook off the numbing effects of the spell and smoothly jumped to his feet.

"Harry are you…?"

"Fine, I'm fine," Harry said with a hint of annoyance in his voice and backed away from his headmaster. "Sorry, it's just the sixth time I've done that in the last hour. The spell's just too damn strong. I keep loosing concentration."

Harry had noticed Dumbledore silently observing him many times over the last weeks. He had seen much of the spells, charms, and curses that Harry had learned to cast and control with unique precision. Dumbledore never again asked if what he was learning was dark magic, but he had several times asked what he was learning, and where he was learning it from. He kept an even closer eye on his progress with every time that Harry had refused to answer him.

"Concentration is not what you are lacking," Harry looked at Dumbledore with confusion in his eyes. Had he somehow found out about Merlin's Diaries? "Though I don't know what form of Magic you are learning, and I find my curiosity is unfathomable, I have noticed that most of the spells are focused around Life Force."

"Life Force?" asked Harry.

"It is the energy that resides in all living things. If this holds true with the spell you are trying to perform, it will not work on stone," Dumbledore explained.

"Of course, that's what he meant," Harry murmured, speaking of a passage in one of the Diaries.

"Who Harry?"

Harry looked up to Dumbledore. He hadn't meant to speak allowed. "No one," he answered.

"Harry, I understand that you don't want…"

"No, Professor, this has nothing to do with what I want. Nothing ever has anything to do with what I want," Harry interrupted and rolled his eyes. "As I've told you before, I can't tell you. It's not possible."

"Why? Is it a spell or a curse perhaps?" Dumbledore asked.

Harry sat down in a comfortable chair that appeared behind him with a sigh. "I've thought about this for a while and I think it might be a charm. Much like the Fidelius Charm, but it doesn't need a Secret Keeper, and it's placed on objects not people or places. And only certain people can…" Harry stopped mid sentence and jumped up from his chair, determination and realization in his emerald eyes. "Excuse me Professor. I just remembered something that I have to do." Harry left the Room of Requirement swiftly.

Why hadn't he seen it before? Harry moved quickly down the many flights of stairs, until he was standing outside of Snape's quarters in the dungeons. Snape could read the potions diary. Harry knocked loudly on the potion master's door, after a moment Snape opened the door and Harry couldn't resist. He concentrated on the spell he had been practicing and Snape was thrown away from the door and landed several feet away on his green velvet couch.

"Potter, what is the meaning…" Snape began to shout.

"How long have you known about Merlin's Diaries?" Harry spat, as he walked into the room uninvited and slammed the door behind him.

Snape got to his feet and straightened out his robes, irritably. "Much longer then you, it's about time you've realized," Snape snarled. "Took you longer then I had expected. Apparently your smarts are lacking when Miss Granger is not around."

"Well forgive me for having other things on my mind. Why didn't you tell me?" Harry asked. He wasn't fazed in the least that Snape could read the diaries. He had learned so much within the past summer that he didn't think anything could shock him anymore.

"I did not see the point. So what, we have something in common. We're both descendents of the Great Merlin," Snape rolled his eyes callously. "There must be hundreds of us who are descendent from Merlin, sharing a bloodline with someone great, does not make them great."

Harry shook his head. "Don't you care that Merlin chose you to be able to learn his Magic?"

"No, Potter, I do not. I have no need for Ancient Magic and weak spells. The potions book intrigued me, yes. I had never seen it before, but the rest of it holds no value for me," Snape sneered. "As it is, I've only been able to read five books. What is the point of learning it, if your lineage will not allow you too learn all of it? I find it a waste of time. I don't think there is a person alive who can read all of Merlin's Diaries."

"So the charm is linked through the blood?" Harry asked ignoring most of what Snape said.

"Yes, among other things…" Snape snarled.

"How did you find out about the Diaries anyways? I thought Luminous held all of them," Harry interrupted again.

"He does, I was introduced to them through my wife," Snape answered in a seething whisper.

"You're married!" Harry blurted out. And here he thought nothing could shock him.

"Does it seem so improbable that I have a life outside of Hogwarts, Potter? Yes I am married, to Lyndira," Harry visibly paled at Snape's words.

"But you're so different," Harry blurted out again. He knew he was starting to tread on dangerous ground by the expression on Snape's face, but he couldn't help it. This was just too weird.

"Opposites tend to attract Potter. If you are finished with your interrogation, I have quite a few things that need to be done before your classmates arrive tomorrow," Snape said moving past Harry to open the door. Harry just stood there staring at his professor with a sickly look on his face. "That was not an invitation to stay Potter." Harry snapped out of his daze and walked out of Snape's quarters. "If I hear any gossip among the students about me being married, you'll beg for the Cruciatus Curse, for it'll be better then anything that I will do to you," Snape slammed his door in Harry's face.

It took several minutes for Harry to find his way out of the Dungeons, as he wasn't looking where he was going, just kind of wandering aimlessly. Harry took Snape's threat lightly. How could anyone marry a slimy git like that? What Ron's reaction would be echoed through his mind and he began to laugh. No wonder Snape didn't want anyone to know, that would be the reaction of the entire school, perhaps minus the Slytherins. He couldn't wait to tell Ron and Hermione, heck his whole house.

By the time he had returned to the Room of Requirement, Harry was near to hysterical laughter with the thought that he now held leverage over the man. Harry caught his breath and stopped the near snorts of laughter as he pushed open the door, fully expecting to find Dumbledore still there. Harry stopped his laughter completely and clamped his hand over his mouth as he entered to find Lyndira, Luminous, and Remus, in Dumbledore's place, sitting in the dimly lit study that the room had turned into.

Harry began to turn beat red as he tried to contain his laughter. Though he had only known Lyndira briefly, he knew that anything that Snape would do to him would be ten times as worse coming from her.

"What's so funny Harry?" Luminous asked with amusement in his eyes.

"Nothing, nothing at all, excuse me," Harry said and returned to the hall. Just as the door clicked close behind him Harry let his laughter reverberate through the halls. He'd never laughed so hard in his life. He couldn't contain it, it was just too funny. His initial reaction was to be repulsed but now that it had fully sunk in, it really was way to amusing. They were just so different. Harry finally got his laughter under control and with a few deep breaths, he entered back into the room.

"Sorry about that. How are you all doing?" asked Harry with a grin still plastered on his face. They were all now standing and the room had reverted back to his training area.

Lyndira raised her eyebrow at Harry and gave him an angered look, as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You should practice your Occlumency more Harry, especially around a natural Legilimens. A slimy git, hmm, Harry?"

Harry visibly paled and then color came back to his face with embarrassment. "I'm sorry, it's just…"

Lyndira laughed at Harry's embarrassment. "Don't worry about it Harry. I've heard worse things from men twice your age," Lyndira side glanced at her brother with amusement in her eyes. "Great start you've gotten yourself off on with the new Defense teacher."

"You're teaching Defense this year?" Harry asked hopefully.

"Sadly no, I was speaking about Severus. I'm taking over Potions."

Harry collapsed in the chair that appeared out of nowhere for him. As if his life wasn't miserable enough, now he had to endure another year with a horrible Defense teacher. At least he was better then Toad Lady Umbridge. Harry looked up to determine whether or not Lyndira was reading his thoughts but she obviously wasn't as she was telling Remus and Luminous what was so funny.

Harry stood up and looked to the three before him. They were all laughing at his discomfort. Harry cocked his head to one side. It had worked on Snape, and he'd only be attacking… The Minister, a Professor, and one of his fathers best friends. "Could you all take three steps back?" A large smile spread across Harry's lips as he calculated in his mind where each of them would land. Large puffy couches formed in each spot. All three did without question and Harry subconsciously thought that they deserved this for not keeping their guard up.

Harry hardly had to concentrate this time. The air shifted slightly around him as a wave of energy encircled him and then shot out in a pale, barely visible, yellow ring. The spell had the same effect as it did on Snape and all but Luminous flew back several feet and landed on the fluffy couches unharmed, but perhaps a little numb.

Luminous clapped his hands together and sniggered at his sister and Remus, who were just shaking off the side affects of the spell. They each looked at Harry. Lyndira was laughing and Remus was staring at Harry in bewilderment. "Good show lad," Luminous laughed, with the air of a child.

Harry shook his head at the adults. "I have only two words for you, 'Constant Vigilance.' Professor, Minister, Remus," Harry nodded respectfully to each of the adults in turn and then left the room laughing all the while, and thinking that he'd have to thank Dumbledore for pointing out the obvious, "Life Force, of course!"

By the time Harry had made his way to Gryffindor Tower he had a stitch in his side from laughing so hard and he was the happiest he'd been all month. He couldn't wait to tell Hermione and Ron about Snape being married, to Lyndira of all people. "Married did you know he was married?" Harry blurted to the Fat Lady as she swung open for him. She just shrugged as Harry passed and he grinned at her before going into the common room.

The second the door swung closed behind him, Harry fell to his knees and clutched his hand to his scar, where a siring pain had developed. When the pain had passed and he was able to look up, a projection of Voldemort was standing in front of him.

Harry launched himself to his feet. "Voldemort," Harry spat.

"Mr. Potter, sorry about the pain… No, I'm not," Riddle circled Harry as he spoke and a cruel chuckle escaped him. A cold smile formed on his lips. "I have a deal for you. Tomorrow is the Sorting Ceremony. All of the little first years will be taking their place among the houses. At the end of the sorting just before McGonagall takes away the hat, you will ask to be resorted."

"So what's the deal?"

Voldemort stopped in front of Harry. "If the Sorting Hat places you in Gryffindor, I will leave you and all of your little friends alone for the entire school year. I may even consider lifting the curse. But if the Sorting Hat places you where you belong in Slytherin, you will come to me willing and take the Dark Mark."

"No, I will not be resorted. I am a Gryffindor and I will never serve you!" Harry yelled needlessly at the projection.

"We shall see. Prove your loyalty to Gryffindor," Voldemort said calmly and then disappeared.

Harry sunk into his favorite chair by the fireplace. He pointed his wand at the fireplace and muttered, "Incendio." Fire leapt to life. Harry stared at the bright orange and red flames in deep thought. He sat there for hours. It was when the fire had died out and only white wisps of smoke were left behind, that Harry finally looked away. He had stayed up all night, and he had only come to one conclusion among his disordered thoughts. That was that he could never, and would never, serve Voldemort willingly.

Harry stretched and then pushed himself out of the chair. He returned to his dormitory and changed into his running clothes. He looked at the sun coming over the trees of the Forbidden Forest. It was a bit earlier then he normally would go out, but going to sleep now was pointless. And running always helped clear his mind.

Harry had run until his legs gave out and then he collapsed breathless in the grass by the lake. He stared up at the cloudless sky, wishing beyond anything that his world was different. "Why?" Harry asked the indifferent sky. "Why me?" he whispered his unheard questions. "Why not Seamus or Dean or Neville...?" Harry's barely audible sentence trailed off. No he wouldn't wish his position upon anyone else, no one deserved his situation.

Harry rolled over on his stomach and watched the bizarre movements of the Giant Squid roaming around the lake. He had just closed his eyes to take a nap in the sun when there was a rustle of bushes and Harry instinctively jumped to his feet.

"Who's there?" Harry asked loudly, pulling out his wand from the side pocket on his pants swiftly. Harry's breath caught in his throat as a large almost entirely black stag appeared. It looked at Harry for a long moment and then darted towards the Forbidden Forest. "Dad!" Harry shouted as he ran after it. The stag disappeared into the forest and Harry stopped on the edge. He looked longingly into the dark forest, but he didn't enter it. He had promised Dumbledore that he wouldn't leave the grounds, and if the stag was indeed his father, he'd reveal himself in time. Harry moved away from the forest with a heavy sigh and started his hike back up to the castle, completely unaware of the rodent curiously watching him from the undergrowth.

Several hours later, Harry found himself watching, from several floors above the Entrance Hall, as students filed in quickly, trying to get out of the downpour outside. Harry had taken the liberty of threatening Peeves with the wrath of the Bloody Baron, who Harry had become well acquainted with in the last month. If the poltergeist so much as threw one water balloon at the already drenched students, the Baron would be there in seconds. Harry still didn't understand why Peeves was so afraid of the Baron, but whatever worked. He remembered getting drenched by the annoying poltergeist in his past years at Hogwarts and he took pity on his fellow classmates the second he had seen the dark rain clouds coming in earlier that afternoon.

Harry watched as Ginny, Ron, and Hermione helped to dry off some of the younger students as they passed them on their way to the Great Hall. He saw that Ginny had made Prefect. He hadn't known that, and he thought Mrs. Weasley must be thrilled. Harry noticed Hermione and Ron looking around for him, but it was Ginny who caught his gaze. She was about to point him out to Hermione and her brother, but stopped at the shake of his head. She nodded slowly up at him, giving him a sad smile before following Hermione and Ron into the Great Hall.

Harry waited until the entrance hall had cleared and the first years begun to file in, before he made his way down the stairs. Professor McGonagall gave him a nod, as he passed her, and walked into the Great Hall. Hermione and Ron got up from their seats to make room for him to sit, but Harry walked passed them with a pained expression on his face. He took a seat at the head of the table as far away from his fellow Gryffindors and as far away from the whispers that followed him up the hall. He did not want to be here tonight but he knew he had to. He was already starting to feel the 'pain,' as he dubbed the horrible felling of the curse. But as long as he stayed as far away from those that cared for him, the pain wasn't unbearable.

As he had expected, most of the students were making speculations about why he wasn't on the train, but it wasn't until the first years came into the hall that he started to get really annoyed. Loud whispers went up and down the line of first years quickly. At least most the older students had the politeness to try and not be overheard. The first years weren't so polite, and Harry caught pieces of conversation about him quite clearly from throughout the hall.

"Look its Harry Potter."

"I wonder if it's true that there was a prophecy made about 'You Know Who' and him."

"I heard from my brother that Harry Potter wasn't coming back this year, because he was afraid 'You Know Who' was going to try and kill him again."

"Did you know that there has been an attack on his life every year since he started Hogwarts?"

"I heard that he wounded 'You Know Who' at the attack on the Ministry."

"That can't be true. 'You Know Who's' too powerful to be hurt by a boy."

"He's not just any boy. He's the 'Boy Who Lived'."

"That's just what the Prophet dubs him."

"I heard that he was angry at the Ministry for letting the Prophet print all those stories about him and Dumbledore."

"I think that the Prophet's jealous because Potter gave the Quibbler an exclusive."

"I thought he wore glasses."

Harry snorted with amusement at the last comment, and the first years nearer to him, looked at him oddly. At least some of what they were gossiping about was true. Harry now wondered exactly what had been printed in the Prophet about him throughout the beginning of the summer. He had cast aside reading the prejudice piece of trash, but he was now realizing how sorely out of the loop he was. After all, the Prophet did sprout the truth occasionally.

Harry pushed his thoughts aside as Professor McGonagall entered with the Sorting Hat and the first years became silent with anticipation as the Sorting Hat came to life and began to sing its very brief… song.

'Though I may be just an old Hat,

I have a job to look in your mind,

Do not be scared by what I might find,

For one word will escape my Lips,

And that will be the place were you belong,

Do not fear I have never been wrong,

Now on with the separation,

Away with you to Brave and Noble Gryffindor,

Or Smart and Logical Ravenclaw,

Down to Cunning Slytherin with their Great Ambition,

The rest do not fret;

Will go to Humble and Loyal Hufflepuff,

Now on with the sorting.'

With that, the Sorting Hat went silent and applause slowly broke throughout the hall, but Harry was too lost in thought by the Hat's words to notice. It claimed to never be wrong. Harry looked over to his friends. He couldn't even sit with them, and even now being as far away as he was from them was still uncomfortable. Harry was so lost in his memory about his visit from the Dark Lord that he didn't refocus until he heard the last name called and sorted into Ravenclaw and applause sounded throughout the hall again.

Hermione's eyes met his before Harry stood up abruptly still staring at her. There was only one way to prove to Riddle that he belonged in Gryffindor, and that was to be resorted. Harry finally looked away from Hermione and walked up to McGonagall before she even had the chance to pick up the hat. "Professor, I'd like to be resorted," Harry said in a soft but determined voice.

There was a collective gasp from students and professors alike, and the hall erupted in noise but instantly quieted as Dumbledore stood up and raised his hands to silence them. "Silence!"

"But, Mr. Potter, that…" Professor McGonagall began.

"Hasn't been done in over fifty years, I have read Hogwarts a History, Professor. I've looked and there isn't anything in the by laws against being resorted," Harry interrupted McGonagall who gave him a stern look for doing so.

Dumbledore moved around the table from his seat and gave Harry a firm look. "If you so wish to be resorted you may be resorted. Headmaster Dippet did not stop the last young man and I shall not stop you."

Harry registered at hint of confidence in the old man's voice and that gave Harry a little more confidence to do what he knew had to be done. It also gave Harry the slightest hope that he would stay in Gryffindor.

"I do," Harry said firmly and it was as if the entire hall held their breaths as they waited for McGonagall's answer.

"Very well Mr. Potter, if that is what you want, take a seat."

Harry sat on the small stool at the front of the hall. He remembered the first time he had sat their. How nervous he was, and how much he wished that he didn't have to be their, with everyone's eyes on him. But now, as he saw the eyes of everyone on him again and as the large hat was lowered onto his head and then fell over his eyes, just as it had done the first time, Harry had none of the feelings that his younger self had felt.

'Harry Potter, back again?' the Sorting Hat asked in his mind.

'Yes, you said you were never wrong, now's your chance to prove it. I want to be resorted,' Harry answered back with determination even in his inner voice.

'Hmm, interesting, the last person I resorted stayed in their same house. Yes, Tom Riddle showed much loyalty to Slytherin that day.' The hat sat silently for a long time before speaking again. 'Placing you seems to be very difficult indeed, you have new knowledge I see. You still hold all the bravery and loyalty of Gryffindor. But everything else about you leans towards Slytherin. Your dislike for Muggles for instance, and your desire for power stand out most, among that which has changed in you. Again the hat sat motionless and silent for a long moment. I still say the same thing I said the last time you put me on your head, Potter. You would do well in…'

"SLYTHERIN!"

Harry ripped the hat angrily off of his head, just as the hat sounded out the name that Harry dreaded hearing. He threw the hat to the stone floor. "Fine!" Harry shouted at it as he ran out of the Great Hall. The feast that was ahead of them, was completely forgotten, by the loud whispers and outraged cries of both the Gryffindor and Slytherin houses, which followed him out of the hall.

A/N: What will Harry do? Take Voldemort's deal? How will his friends react? How will the Slytherins react?